Alexandru Gaina

Morning-evening preference: sleep pattern spectrum and lifestyle habits among Japanese junior high school pupils.

We surveyed the sleep‐wake patterns and lifestyle habits in a sample of Japanese first to third year junior high school children (n=638, age 12 to 15 yrs), of whom 29.3% were evening type, 64.1% intermediate type, and 6.6% morning type in preference. The morningness‐eveningness (M‐E) score was lower (more evening typed), 16.1 vs. 15.4 in first compared to third year students. There were significant gender differences, with girls showing a greater evening preference. Evening preference was associated with longer sleep latency, shortened sleep duration during schooldays and weekends, bad morning feeling, and episodes of daytime sleepiness. In contrast, morning preference was associated with higher sleep drive and better sleep‐wake parameters and lifestyle habits. Our results suggest the morning preference should be promoted among junior high school children to increase the likelihood of more regular sleep‐wake patterns and lifestyle habits.

Association of Smoking Behavior and Socio-Demographic Factors, Work, Lifestyle and Mental Health of Japanese Civil Servants

Association of Smoking Behavior and Socio‐Demographic Factors, Work, Lifestyle and Mental Health of Japanese Civil Servants: Lizhen Hu, et al. Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, University of Toyama—Few studies have examined the individual and social impact of smoking behavior in the Japanese population. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between smoking behavior and socio‐demographic factors, lifestyle, mental health and work characteristics of Japanese civil servants. A self‐administered questionnaire survey of 1,439 employees (821 men and 618 women) aged 20–64 yr was conducted in a local government department in 2001. The questionnaire included items on socio‐demographic factors, education level, grade of employment, lifestyle, affect balance scale, and work characteristics. Smoking status was divided into current smoker, ex‐smoker and never smoked. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between smoking and the other items. Men presented a higher smoking prevalence rate than women (53.1% vs. 4.9%). In men, a strong relationship between current smoker and advanced age (40 yr or older), low education level, less physical activity, irregular breakfast and negative affect balance was found. Among men with a low education, the prevalence of smoking cessation was significantly lower in comparison to men with a high education. In women, being young (20–29 yr), unmarried (single or other), having a hobby, and irregular breakfast were associated with smoking behavior. Furthermore, smoking cessation was significantly associated with having a hobby and negative affect balance. The above results suggest that socio‐demographic, lifestyle and mental health characteristics are independently associated with current smoking. These factors should be considered in smoking cessation policies as program components.

Nested case-control study on associations between lung function, smoking and mortality in Japanese population

ObjectivesOnly a few long-term follow-up studies with a focus on the association between lung function and mortality in the Japanese population have been undertaken. In this study, we examined the associations of lung function, smoking and the results of allergy skin tests with mortality in a longitudinal study of the Japanese population.MethodsBaseline measurements were performed on residents of Fukui, Japan in 1972, and a follow-up survey was conducted in 2002. By employing a nested case-control design, 596 cases (deaths) and 596 age and sex-matched controls (survivals) were selected. Lung function was assessed using forced vital capacity (FVC) expressed as the normal percent predicted (FVC %pred) and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to FVC (FEV1/FVC). Allergy skin tests were performed with extracts of house dust, candidia and mixed fungal samples (bronchomycosis). The Brinkman index was used to assess smoking intensity. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate whether lung function was associated with mortality after adjustment for other potential confounding variables.ResultsThose categorized into the first- or second-lowest quartile of FVC %pred had a higher mortality [hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 2.01 (1.26–3.19) and 1.84 (1.11–3.05)], respectively. On top of these, heavy smoking (BI≥400) was associated with a higher mortality [HR and 95% CI: 1.73 (1.18–2.53)]. There were only weak of associations between the results of allergy skin tests and mortality.ConclusionsThese results suggest that FVC %pred of lung function and smoking can serve as long-term independent predictors of mortality.